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[A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.]

*Whether it's the weather - Timely rainfall and cooler temperatures have definitely been a relief to lawns, trees and shrubs, but we are by no means in good shape for the amount of rainfall we've had.  Keep monitoring and keep those plants drought stress free as we go into the fall and into the winter.

[A will is a dead giveaway.]

*What's bugging you? - "Unseen" bagworms!  That's what bugs me.  Just saw an entire hedge of junipers along a church's driveway simply loaded with bagworms.  The junipers were off color, branches looking bare, and hundreds of bagworms hanging from the branches.  They aren't invisible.  Why, oh why, don't folks see them?  Oh woe is me.      This week, Buggy Joe Boggs (OSU Extension) is reporting another emerald ash borer discovery in Marion and Delaware counties.  The origins of infestation are unknown, but good chance it was from the movement of firewood or ash tree materials from already infested trees in quarantined counties.  That makes 18 counties in Ohio where EAB has been identified.  (www.ohioagriculture.gov/eab)  BJB is also reporting mimosa webworm on locust trees, leaf blight on buckeye trees, maple spider mites turning maple leaves fall colors early, homeowners suddenly discovering bark beetles in their evergreens (remember these guys are secondary - they hit trees that are stressed, suffering and ready to die - and evergreens are easy to fool the eye when they are actually dying), hackberry psyllids having fun coming through your window screens, grubs starting to show up in lawns (treat now before severe damages occur), grasshopper populations showing high numbers in many areas (no, not plague levels), the second generation of catalpa sphinx moth caterpillars, bacterial canker on tomatoes and peppers, and, even though he is known as Buggy Joe Boggs, he is also Grassy Joe Boggs, as he is a specialist in turf as well!  So, Buggy Grassy Joe is reminding everyone how important it is to feed the lawn NOW, and again later this fall.  Nitrogen is thee key ingredient, looking for around 1 pound of N per 1,000 sq. ft. per application.  For newly seeded lawns, using a starter fertilizer for the first feeding is recommended.    -Catch the 'Buggy Joe Boggs Report' Saturdays at 8:42am on 55KRC radio.

[As Joe would say, "time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.]

*Question mark and the Mysterians - Here are a few gardening questions from this weeks emailed news bag:

"I just finished spraying my weeds with Trimec and am getting ready to sow new grass seed.  Which seed do you recommend?"  -Well, before I recommend a seed, I need to tell you that you cannot sow grass seed until 3-4 weeks after spraying with a weed killer!  Read the label.  Some say 2-3 weeks, some 3-4.  Whichever it is, you need to wait. 

"I'm wanting to grow pampas grass here, but have been told it doesn't do well in our zone.  So, what is the tall grass I'm seeing around our area, that looks like pampas grass?"   -Well, every now and then you may see a clump of pampas grass in the right situation, but what you're probably seeing is 'Plume grass' (Erianthus ravennae - Northern Pampas Grass).  8-10 feet, grey green foliage, silvery plumes late in the season.  Looks very much like pampas.

"Working in the lawn, I am seeing some grubs.  Can I treat for them now?  I want to seed as well."   -Yes you can, and it won't affect the seed.  Using Merit takes 2-3-4 weeks before you get a kill, so you may consider using the one shot grub killers such as Bayer's 24 hour grub control, Dylox, or lawn insecticide labeled for grub kill.  As we move into the fall, and if you do have grubs in the soil (and most folks do), raccoons and skunks will dig to eat those grubs.  We have found that applying Milorganite to those areas will help deter the critters from digging, and give a very light feeding to the turf!

“This year, my junipers have developed berries.  I have kids and pets and was wondering if those berries were poisonous?”   -Well, let’s just say it’s probably best if the kids and pets don’t eat them.  They are bitter and not very palatable, but never the less, shouldn’t be eaten.  Now, juniper berries are actually used for many things, and have been for centuries, including aromatherapy, soaps, food flavoring, and of course, the flavoring for Gin.  But it’s also used as a diuretic, and eating the berries will cause severe increases in urinating, diarrhea, and intestinal pain.  So, show the kids what they are, and tell them to look but don’t eat.  On that same token, some Taxus (Japanese yews) will also produce berries that are a bright red and very fleshy.  Do not eat these berries.  The fleshy fruit on the outside actually is edible, but the seed on the inside is highly poisonous.  Birds can eat them and be okay, as they do not crush the seed and it passes through them.  But, it’s not the same story for others.  Do not eat the berries from Japanese yews!

“What is the big flower I’m seeing right now growing along the roadsides, with the large purple flowers on top?  Is it a weed or can it be grown in the garden?”   -Well, it actually is a weed; Joe Pye Weed that is.  And yes, its domesticated cousins are available for you to plant in the perennial garden.  Joe Pye Weed is a bold tough perennial that you can count on for great hardiness and late summer colors.  Check out ‘Chocolate’ with its maroon foliage and white flowers.

“My dogwood has berries on it for the first time.  Is that normal, and should I be concerned about the kids and pets eating them?”  -Yes, it is normal for these bright red very attractive berries to appear on dogwoods.  Great colors for the fall and early winter, as the birds usually enjoy them.  Bitter tasting, these berries are not poisonous, so don’t worry about the kids and pets eating them.  I also get a lot of emails concerning the berries on pyracantha, whether or not to be concerned about them being poisonous.  Nope, these could be eaten as well.  As a matter of fact, there are even a few recipes for pyracantha jelly out there!  I’ll leave the berries on the plants for the birds to enjoy.

“I want to plant some groundcover, but was told by another landscaper that it’s too late.  Is that true?”  -Not at all!  Now, “flats” of groundcover should be installed this month or through very early October to allow it time to begin rooting before winter.  But if we’re planting groundcover grown in large pots (deeply rooted), we’ll keep right on planting well into the fall season.

[Settle your debts with an exorcist or you could get repossessed.]

This week's Success Tip for your garden -  Bringing Plants Indoors For the Winter - If you’ve been growing your tropical plants outdoors all summer, as summer fades and fall is on the horizon, it’s time to get them ready to go back inside the house for the winter.  Begin this process in mid September, so the plants will be ready to go indoors before the weather gets too cold.  And always keep an eye open for that early frost!

Bringing Plants Indoors: 1.) The first thing to do is to move your tropical or non-hardy plants into a shady location outside, and leave then there for 10 days to 2 weeks.  This helps to acclimate them to the lower light conditions they’ll be receiving once inside your home.  By the way, during this time, do be aware of possible cold temperatures and even frosts, where your plants will need extra protection!  2.)  Just before bringing them inside, 3 things for you to do.  Hose them off with a strong stream of water. You may even want to do this a couple times while they’re acclimating in the shade.  This helps to blow off any insects that may be hanging out on the plants.  Immediately before bringing them inside, give your plants a good spraying of insecticidal soap, making sure you spray tops and bottoms of the leaves, stems, trunks and all.  Again, trying to get rid of any hitchhiking bugs!  (If you do this the same day you’re bringing them inside, let the spray dry, then bring the plants indoors.)  And one last thing.  If possible, lay the plant on its side, slide it out of the pot, and inspect the root ball for any unwanted bugs or anything else that may be hiding in the bottom of the pot.  Rodents, even snakes have been found hiding here.  One way to make sure nothing is in the soil (ants, etc.) is to fill a large tub with water, and then submerge the pot in the water for several hours.  Anything in the soil will either drown, or will float to the top of the water.  It’s also a great way to soak the soil.  Just make sure you allow it plenty of time to drain before bringing it into the house.  3.) Move your tropical plant indoors to a well-lit area indoors, and away from heat vents and cold drafts.  Place a saucer under the pot.  As a general rule, water the plants well, let dry, water again.  And never let water sit in the saucer.  Use luke warm water for watering.  4.)  Expect leaves to drop as the plants make their final acclimation to the indoor lighting.  It’s natural.  And do keep your eyes open for any flare-ups of insects on the plants.  Keep insecticidal soaps, systemic insecticides, and whitefly traps on hand just in case.  5.)  Reduce feeding to an occasional shot of a water-soluble fertilizer, which can be increased once the days start to get longer, come next spring!  Again, do expect leaves to fall once the plants are inside, as the sunlight just isn’t what it was outside.  Stick with them, water only as needed, watch for outbreaks of insects and catch them early, and your tropical plants should make it through the winter, and be ready to get back outside late next spring.  We also suggest a good rinsing off several times through the winter, and the shower is the perfect place to do it!  Knocks off many bugs, cleans the leaves, and the plants love the water and the humidity in the shower.  Use luke-warm water, and let them shower for 5-10 minutes.

[A short fortuneteller who has escaped from prison would be a small medium at large.]

*From the Garden to the Kitchen / Hey Rita, what's cooking? - Yardboy, you should see our Yukon gold potatoes. They are thicker skinned than last year’s, but I suppose that has to do with the dry, hot summer. They are really delicious and along with those last few ears of corn, we’re eating from the garden once again.

HEARTY LEEK AND POTATO CORN CHOWDER WITH WHITE CHEDDAR - Using mashed potato flakes instead of flour as a thickener adds protein and calcium without worrying about making a roux to thicken the soup. Now if you don’t have leeks, go ahead and use onions. If you want to lower the fat, use a butter substitute and fat free half & half. And the bacon? Well, that’s optional but oh so good! Yellow cheddar can be substituted, or try a Mexican blend for a new twist.  You'll need: 2-3 cups thinly sliced leeks, white and pale green part only, Butter, 6 cups diced Yukon Gold potatoes with some skin left on, 2-3 cans, 14.5 oz each good quality chicken broth, 1-1/2 cups half & half , 10 oz frozen white shoe peg corn, thawed, Up to 1 cup dry mashed potato flakes, Salt and pepper to taste, White Cheddar, shredded, Sautéed bacon, Green onions for garnish.       -Sauté leeks in a bit of butter until fragrant. Add potatoes and stir to coat.  Add broth and bring to a boil. Lower to medium heat and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes.  Add half & half and continue to simmer until flavors blend.  You can now puree some of the potatoes with a hand blender or mash with a potato masher, or leave as is.  Pour in corn and cook another minute or two.  Start adding potato flakes to thicken the mixture, and remember that as the soup sits, it gets thicker.  Stir to blend and add seasonings to taste.  Serve with choice of garnishes.  Serves 6-8.   Tips from Rita’s kitchen: Leeks are a member of the onion family, quite mild in flavor and used in a lot of French dishes. Use only the white/pale green part as the green leaves are too tough, even when chopped finely.  The leaves make a wonderful seasoning, though.  And you can make a bouquet garnish using the leek leaf as a pouch to hold aromatic herbs to season dishes. Tie the pouch up with kitchen twine and let it do its magic!  Leeks are great for your cardiovascular system.  Members of the onion family can raise beneficial HDL cholesterol, lower blood pressure, decrease the risk of cancer, reduce inflammation and even relieve congestion (remember the onion poultices Grandma used to use?!). Leeks are grown in sandy soil so need to be washed real well before using. I like to rinse them lightly, then slice and then rinse well.  

-Rita Nader Heikenfeld, CCP / Macy’s Regional Culinary Professional / Herbalist / Author / Local TV and Radio Cooking Expert / Adjunct Professor U.C. Clermont College / Community Press Papers /  [life@communitypress.com attn: Rita or www.abouteating.com]

[As Rita would say, "a hard boiled egg is hard to beat."]

*Yardboy's plant to ponder - If you’ve been looking for hardy trees that may add a little tropical flare to your garden, I’ve got a few you may want to consider.  1.) Now don’t forget the magnolias - Sweet Bay with its semi evergreen shiny leaves, multi-stem habit, and of and on sweet smelling flowers.  Or Southern magnolia with its large deep green evergreen leaves - keep Bracken’s Brown Beauty in mind for a good hardy selection.  And how about Magnolia macrophylla, or Bigleaf Magnolia, with those extremely large leaves - bright green on top and silvery gray below.  Now that’s pretty tropical!  2.) How about Mimosa?  That’s right; you’re seeing hardier selections of these southern trees work their way into northern zone 6 and southern 5 with little or no winter dieback.  And with those pink flower puffs in the summer, vase shaped growing habit, and of course, those bi-pinnately compound leaves, Mimosa is sure to add a little tropical flare to your landscape. 3.) This is one of my favorites -Tiger Eye’s Sumac - this summer beauty gets 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide, multi-stemmed, and the outstanding yellow foliage, supported by the maroon stem are simply spectacular.  Tiger Eye’s Sumac is definitely a tropical like show stopper for the garden.  -4.) And last but not least, the Paw Paw tree.  Again a multi-stemmed small tree with spreading branches as it matures - add that to the 6 to 12 inch long leaves, and you’ve definitely got a semi-tropical look here!  Perfect as an under-story tree, edge of the woods, or right in the middle of the garden.  And, as a bonus, paw paws can produce an edible fruit.   Tastes somewhat like a banana with custard like consistency, and will be ready for the picking, in just another week or so.  Tropical look and tropical fruit!  What more could you ask for?

[Acupuncture would be a jab well done.]

A little bit of this and a little bit of that - As we move towards the fall season, it also becomes the time of year when deer increase food intake, and those bucks like to rub their antlers on smaller trees, including the ones in your yard.  If you have any deer in your area, be sure to protect 4-5 inch trunk diameter trees and smaller with trunk protectors.  If you're planting new trees, protect them with trunk protectors.  One buck, one night, and he can destroy all the smaller trees in your yard.  And to keep them from devouring your landscape plants, be sure to apply DEERSCRAM, and Liquid Fence as great deer repellents.  Do it now, before your plants become deer candy!

[World traveler Graham Galloway says, "If you jump off a bridge in Paris, you are in Seine."]

Classes, Seminars, and upcoming Special Events - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!  NATORP'S WHOLESALE NURSERY OUTLET SALE IS COMING NEXT WEEK!    For 5 days, Natorp's will open their wholesale nursery on Snider Road in Mason to the public!  Come straight to the source for over 30,000 shrubs, evergreens, pre-dug and container trees, and over 125,000 potted perennials.  Cash n Carry, and ready for immediate pick-up.  (Installation pricing will be available for larger trees).  Dates are 9/15, 16, 17 and 9/23 &24.  Hours are Friday 11am-7:30pm, Saturdays 9am-5pm, and Sundays 12-5pm.  For more information, visit our website at www.natorp.com. (Sorry, due to daily changes in inventory, we are unable to provide a plant availability list.  You’ll just have to come and see all the great plants available at really great prices!)  Tell your friends and family, tell the neighbors, and tell everyone at work.  This is one sale you won't want anyone to miss!

NATORP'S FALL FEST at our FLORENCE GARDEN STORE!  - Join the folks at the Natorp's Garden Store in Florence for their Fall Fest, this Saturday, September 9.  They have a full day of great gardening presentations, and as an extra bonus, each class will have a prize given away, as well as money saving discount coupons.  Food, drinks, experts on hand, and great classes for you to enjoy!  For more info, visit the Florence Store or call 859-384-3350. 

FARM CITY TOUR - Would you and your family like to visit an array of working farms and learn more about agriculture and agribusiness activities?  Then don't miss the Butler County Farm City Tour, scheduled for October 14 and 15.  You can set your own pace and visit as many places as you like, in whichever order you like.  To find out more and to receive a map, call Butler Soil & Water Conservation District at 513-887-3720.  Now this will be a fun tour! (Tom Study Farm / Contreras Rd. / Dairy, Brent Tincher Farm / Riggs Rd. / Horses, Mark Tincher Farm / Stillwell Beckett Rd. / Sheep, Brian Butterfield / St.Rt.73 / Farm Market, and Jeff Ittle, Green Prairie Turf / Jones Rd. / Sod and Tree Farm.

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden  invites you to check out their annual plant trials for 2006!  Visit the Zoo and not only enjoy the animals, but see one of the best display of beautiful gardens.  Over 150 varieties of annuals are planted in the gardens, both in ground and in containers.  And, they're all labeled so you'll know what they are!  Director of horticulture Steve Foltz and his staff has really outdone themselves with this years plantings.  The Zoo's top picks for 2006 will be published in a pamphlet later on.  Past years picks pamphlets are available at the Botanical Center, or online at www.cincyzoo.org.

Split Rock Conservation Park Fall Fundraiser - Sat., Sept 30, 2006 - 4-9pm - Split Rock Conservation Park 4503 Belleview Rd. Petersburg, Ky. - $30 / person - $10 kids 6-12 - Dinner, Music by Rabbit Hash String Band, Silent Auction, Educational Displays - call 859-689-9999 or www.splitrockpark.org.

[Bakers trade recipes on a knead to know basis.]

Well, that's it for this week.  Fall is right around the corner and there are so many great things going on over the next 2 months.  Be sure to get and enjoy as much as you can!  And remember, Fall is the best time for planting!   Now, do yourself a favor.  Go out and have the best weekend of your life.  See ya!  RW, the Yardboy.  (Go Bearcats, Go Bengals, and GO BUCKS!)

[Catch Natorp's own grown yardboy Ron Wilson during the week:  -55KRC The Talk Station 'In the Garden with Ron Wilson' every Saturday from 6-9am  - Satellite Radio / XM TalkRadio 165 every Saturday from 6-9am  -610 WTVN (Columbus) every Saturday from 10-12pm (except during Buckeye Football season!)  -Friday mornings at 8:06am on 55KRC's 'The Morning Show' with Jerry Thomas and Craig Kopp  -Thursday and Saturday mornings on Local 12 News (WKRC) Homeworx Team   -Garden expert for 'HomewoRx' with Gary Sullivan on Local 12, Sunday at 11:30am.  Be sure to listen to 55KRC The Talk Station for the best in talk radio! (Home of programming director Tony 'Big Dog' Bender, and executive producer Joe 'the original Joe Pro, who without Joe, the show just wouldn't go' Strecker.)

[A truly wise man never plays leapfrog with a unicorn.  -The Big Dog's point to ponder.]

A Day Celebrating Bulbs - Join the Southwestern Ohio Daffodil Society and the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati at 2715 Reading Road (corner of Reading and Oak Street) starting at 10 am on Saturday, September 9, 2006,  for a day celebrating bulbs and Fall.  Schedule of Events: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Hands-on Workshop on Forcing Bulbs Presented by Miggie Jacobs and Sally Heckscher Cost $10 - includes pot of bulbs to take home 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Daffodil Secrets: An Insider’s Guide Panel of Experts:Mary Lou Gripshover, Bill Lee, Tom Stettner Jr. & Linda Wallpe Accredited daffodil judges and active members of The American Daffodil Society Cost $10 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. “A Garden’s Buried Treasure” Presented by Jason Delaney, Senior Outdoor Horticulturist, The Missouri Botanical Garden A program discussing the cultivation of hardy and non-hardy bulbous plants for continuous bloom in the home garden. Cost $25 - includes lunch Classes may be attended separately or enjoy the whole day for only $40. Please RSVP to 513-221-0981 ext 18. Bulbs will be for sale on the day of the event, including the new and exclusive cultivar, “Sooty Acres”, named for the Civic Garden Center.  We are excited to offer ‘Sooty Acres’ (2W-P) , a new daffodil hybrid of ‘Shortcake’ by ‘Culmination.’ has been registered with the Royal Horticultural Society.. All proceeds from the sale of ‘Sooty Acres’ directly benefit the CGC.